Global Underutilization of Antiviral Therapy and Survival Outcomes in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 78 Studies and 68,243 Patients.

What was studied

This review pooled studies on antiviral drugs in hepatitis B-related liver cancer. It asked how often people get antiviral drugs. It also asked how those drugs link to survival and to cancer return. The studies were published from 2006 to 2024. 78 studies with 68,243 people were analysed. The team used random-effects models.

What they found

Some people got antiviral drugs, and some got them before diagnosis. Treated people had higher 3- and 5-year survival than untreated people. In inactive cancer, 5-year survival was higher with treatment. In active cancer, the gap was not significant. Antiviral drugs stayed linked to better 5-year survival in a meta-regression. Cancer return rates did not differ significantly.

What it means for patients

The team says antiviral drugs are linked to better long-term survival but are underused. They say this shows a gap in care. They call for earlier and steadier use of antiviral drugs.

Why it is not certain yet

These are links, not proof of cause. The abstract does not say how good the studies were. In active cancer, the survival gap was not significant. A review can only be as good as the studies in it.

Source

Global Underutilization of Antiviral Therapy and Survival Outcomes in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 78 Studies and 68,243 Patients.

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